Spring suspension of motor road vehicles



L. E. COWEY. SPRING SUSPENSION OF-MOTOR ROAD VEHICLES, u-rucmou FILED MAR. 7. 1921.

1,435,915. Patented Nov. 21, 1922 [(9-1 '2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L. E. COWEY. SPRING SUSPENSION 0F MOTOR ROAD VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 7. I92!- Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

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LEONARD EUGENE COWEY, OF KEW GARDENS, ENGLAND.

SPRING SUSPENSION OIE MOTOR ROAD VEHICLES. 7

Application filed March 7,

ties attached to the frontand rear axles respectively.

According to one feature of the present invention each spring is also connected at two points between the ends thereof to the frame or chassis, one or both of said connections to the frame or chassis comprising rubberor equivalent resilient or flexible material by which the spring is supported in a resilient manner so as to permit of a limited amount of movement of the springs relatively to the frame or chassis. In the case or non-laminated springs the ends thereof may be rigidly connected to the front and rear axles respectively, but in the case of laminated springs one of the aforesaid connections to the axle is preferably also of a flexible character'and may be constituted, for example, by a journal bearing, a ball and socket joint, or by toggle links, said flexible connection being preferably located at the rear axle of the car. Incases where only one of the aforesaid'connections to the frame or chassis comprises resilient or flexible material, the other connection may by constituted by. a ball and socket joint or by ajsliding or equivalent joint.-

-According to a further feature of the present invention and in the case of springs constituted by non-laminated or solid bars the extremities thereof are attached to the front and/or rear axles respectively in a flexible or pivotal manner and each spring is also connected between the ends thereof to the frame or chassis, either by rigidconnecting means orby connecting means of a non-rigid or flexible character.

Ii -order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect the same will now be described more 1921. Serial No; 450,246.

fullywith reference to the accompanying draw1ngs'1n' which:- 1

Figure 1 1s a partly diagrammatic elevation of alight carfitted with one constructional formof the invention. v H igure 2 is a plan showing a set of the springs at one side of the-vehicle. i F lgures 3, 3 3", 3, 3 3", show on a larger scale certain parts of the deviceshown at Figures 1 and 2. y

F lgures 4, and 5, 6 and 7, and '8 and 9 are views corresponding-to Figures 1 and 2,

but showing alternative constmctionalforms of the invention and Figure 7 is a detail View showing a fur ther modification of. the arrangement shown at Figures 6 and 7. i

i A is the body. of the vehicle and B, B the long leaf spr ngs which are tapered (in 7 plan) towards each of their extremities and mounted together inpairs and disposed on the opposite sides ofthe vehicle witlrtheir ends attached respectively to the front axle C and the. rear axle D. In the examples shown atFigures 1 to 7 each pair of springs B, B is held in position and also connected to the axle G by meansofja U-shaped-member E whichis disposed over the springs and the ends thereof passed through openings in the axleC, the parts being secured together by means ofnutse, e. Bolts and nutsjFpF are-also provided for securing the front ends of each spring to the axle'C. I

In the examples shown at Figures 1 to7 thelong leaf springs are also secured to the body of the vehiclev A at two points between theends thereof by means of brackets G,'Gr, which are bolted or otherwisesecured to the chassis and which carry the resilient" sup,

ports H, Hffor the longleafsprings B, B. The said ,resilient supports H, H are; constitute d by upper and lower metal plates 72,70, betweenwhich' plates h, 72/, composed of rubber or like resilient material are located, the springs B, B being located side by side between the-resilient plates h",'-hv" and the various parts securedtogether by bolts and nuts h h I In the embodiment of the invention shown at, Figures 1' and 2 therear ends of the springs are indirectly connected to the axle D through theintermediary of a ball and socket connection I, the'socket part 2' thereof being secured to. the ends of the springs B,

B in a similar manner to that by which the front ends of the springs are attached to the axle C, and the ball part thereof being carried by a curved bracket 2', connected to the rear axle D. Owing to this arrangement the part of each -leaf spring B'which is lo: cated between thef'front axle C and the front resilient connection-G acts both radius and torque rod while the rear part of the spring between the connection G and the rear axle D acts as a radius rod.

In the embodiment of the invention shown at Figures 4 and 5 the rear end of each-zleaf spring B is secured to the axle D through the intermediary'of a pair of toggle links J, J, the ends of which are pivotally con 'nected to a flanged collar'y' on the axle 'D' and the other ends'of'which are pivotally connected to a plate 7" which is attached to'the rear endsof the springsB, B'. This arrangement is intended for use in case'swhere' the rear axle of the car is equipped b'oth with radius and torque rods. In the "arrangement shown at Figures 6 and-7 the rear ends of the springs B, B are rigidly connected to the rear axle by means of a flanged collar which is securedto the axle D and to which the ends of thesprings B, B are attached by vmeans of bolts-and nuts F andZi U-shaped members E. Owing to thefact that the con nection to the front and rear axles is of a rigid character the front andrear'ends of the springs act both'as radius and torque rods.

In the modified arrangement shown at Figure 7- the rearendsiofth'e springs-B, B are secured to the axle D; through the intermediary of a'journal bearingfK so-that the rearends "of the springs are free to move or turn to a limited extentrelativelyto the axle D. "In this case'the front ends of the springs act both as 'r'adius and torqne rods,

while the rear ends act only a s radius rods.

In the arrangement shown at Figuresfi and 9 the front and rear ends of the springs are secured to the axles O and'Dthrough the intermediary of pivotal connectionsL, L

each of said pivotal connections being 0on stituted by plates Z, Z connected as shown'to the front and rear ends "of the sp'rings' rcspectively, and provided with a reduced part Z whichis rotatably 'mountedwithini a collar Z secured'to the'axle, the parts being held together 'by means of nuts Z Z which engage screw threadson the endsof the part -Z*.'

n this case the springs-B, B are ri" idly secured at two points between the ends th ofto the frame or chassis A through the intermediary of Ueshaped members M, M. Owing to this arrangement beth ends of the eresprings are free to turn-so as to allow the springs to accommodate themselves to, or to take up," twisting movements transmitted along'the length thereof. "In this caseboth' ends of the'springs act as radius and torque rods,* so that there is no necessity to provide separate torque or radius rods, but this arrangement as well as that shown at Figures 6 and 7 isonly suitable foruse in cases where thespring is constituted by a solid'or nonlaminated bar.

with reference to constructional forms of the AIthOuglr-theinventionhas been described invention infwhi'chthe springs have been constituted by non-laminated or solid bars it is to be u-nderstood that in cases where a pivotalconnecti'on is provided either at the front orv rear. axle, springs of the laminated examples described with reference to Figures l-to 5,1 as also the modifica'tion shown at type could be employed,"that is tosay, the

Figure 7 ,-'are suitable fo'ruse both ,in cases wherethe springs are constituted by nonlaminated 'or solid bars, andyalso in cases where laminated springs are employed What I claim and desire to'secu're by Letters Patent of the United States is p 1. In; a 'mOtOPIOtLCl"Vehicle the combination with a chassis'of long springs disposed on. opposite sides of the chassis, means attaching one end oi: each of said springsto the front axle,="mcans attaching theother 2.- In a motor road. vehicle thecombination with a chassis of long springs disposed onopposite sides of -thechassis, flexible means attaching -one end of each "of said springs to the front axle, flexible means attaching theother axle, and resilient means comprising elasticzand flexiblematerial con-- r nec'ting each of said'springs -at two points between the endsthereof to the chassis so as to permit twisting movements to be transthe purpose specified.

In motor; road vehicle the combi-.

nation withfla chassis of longsprings-disposed on opposite sides of the chassis, means end of eachof said'springs to the rear'axle,

oneof; said, attaching means being of a flexible character, rigid supporting means con- "necting each of said springs'at two points between the endsthereOf to the chassis,- and elasticand flexible material interposed betwee said rigid support'ingmeans and said springs'so as to'permit'of a-limited amount ofmovement of the springs relatively to the chassis; v

4:."In a motor road vehicle the combination with a chassis'of a'multiplicity of long leaf springscach constituted by a con- 'mitted from end to end otthe springs for i attaching ione 'end'of each of said springs to the front axle, means attaching the other tinuous non-laminated or solid bar, said springs being disposed on opposite sides of the chassis, means attaching one end of each of said springs to the front axle, means attaching the other end of each of said springs to the rear axle, rigidsupporting means connecting each of said springs at two points between the ends thereof to the chassis, and elastic and flexible material interposed between said rigid supporting means and said springs so as to permit of a limited amount of movement of the springs relatively to said rigid supporting means.

5. In a motor road vehicle the combination with a chassis of a, multiplicity of long leaf springs each constituted by a continuous non-laminated or solid bar, Said springs being disposed on opposite sidesof the chassis, flexible means attaching one end of each of said springs to the front axle, flexible means attaching the other end of each of said springs to the rear axle and,

means connecting each of said springs between the ends thereof to the chassis at two points, said means comprising rubber which permits of a limited amount of movement of the springs relatively to the chassis.

6. In a motor road vehicle the combination with a chassis of continuous long springs disposed on opposite sides of the chassis, means attaching one end of each of said springs to the front axle, means attaching the other end of each of said springs to the rear axle, rigid means connecting each of said springs between the ends thereof to the chassis at two points, and rubber interposed between said springs and said rigid connecting means permitting relative movement between said springs and said rigid connecting means.

7. In a motor road vehicle the combination with a chassis of continuous long springs disposed on opposite sides of the chassis, means attaching one end of each of said springs to the front axle, means attaching the other end of each of said springs to the rear axle, rigid means connecting said springs between the ends thereof to the chassis at two points, and rubber interposed between said springs andsaid rigid connecting means so as to allow twisting movements to be transmitted from end to end of the long springs.

8. In a motor road vehicle the combination with a chassis of continuous springs disposed on opposite sides of the chassis, means attaching one end of each of said springs to the front axle, means attaching the other end of each of said springs to the rear axle, rigid means connecting each of said springs to the chassis at twopoints, and rubber interposed between said rigid connecting means and said springs so as to allow of relative universal movement between said springs and said connecting means.

, 9. In a motor road vehicle the combination with a chassis of two leaf springseach constituted by a continuous non-laminated or solid bar, said springs being disposed on opposite sides of the chassis, means attaching one end of each of said springs to the front axle, means attaching the other end of each of' said springs to the rear axle, rigid connecting means attaching each spring between the ends thereof to the chassis, and rubber interposed between said springs and said rigid connecting means permitting a relative universal movement between said springs and said connecting means.

LEONARD EUGENE cowEY. 

